We Know How This Ends

In 2012 Arizona Speaker of the House Kirk Adams was the unquestioned frontrunner to replace Jeff Flake in the United States Congress. Flake decided to run for the U.S. Senate that year. Adams had done a very good job as Speaker and had the backing of John McCain, retiring U.S. Senator Jon Kyl, his fundraising apparatus and even Sarah Palin.

But it was not to be. In most any other election the outcome would have been different. We doubt Adams much regrets the loss as he has gone on to become the highly-respected Chief of Staff to Arizona Governor Doug Ducey.

So why wasn’t it meant to be? Because Matt Salmon decided he wanted to return to Congress. Popular, honorable, recalled fondly, Salmon’s previous tenure in the district proved too much for Adams to overcome.

Fast forward to Paradise Valley, Arizona in 2018. The well-regarded Mayor, Michael Collins, has decided two terms and his rapid-fire record of achievement is enough. He announced so earlier this year.

Potential candidates started lining up, something we wrote about previously. Here is a link.

And something has happened since. Former Paradise Valley Mayor Scott Lemarr appears to want to return to public service, as Mayor. If that’s the case others may want to concoct a campaign against the notion but it might be a little like a salmon swimming upstream.

Paradise Valley enjoyed very good times under Lemarr before. Why wouldn’t it again? That will be the challenge for anyone to overcome against someone who grew up in the community and grew to be very well-liked as Mayor. Lemarr is not a fat man. But he may very well be accompanied by a Fat Lady as the campaign trail nears.